OMG, MSNBC is showing breaking news of a car chase in Texas and

[frankly_fedup2]

we are at war with Iraq, and just recently during an interview, The Lebanese Ambassador to the UN is stating that the Lebanese Army is ready to protect their homeland. Tucker Carlson stated that the U.S. troops would be going in tomorrow to help Americans out. The U.N. Ambassador jokingly said, "better watch out for friendly fire."

PRIORITIES PPL.

Now I'm confused.

The Lebanese BETTER help Israel get rid of Hezbullah. This is a terrorist group that came into Lebanon for strategic purposes obviously, but no one in the Lebanese Govt. will speak out against them for fear of their own positions if not lives. The people claim they love Hezbullah as well (that is publicly); however, privately we are told they hate Hezbullah, want them out of the country, and want Lebanon to be left alone.

The Iraqi's talk about the U.S. being occupiers, then what in the Hell is Hezbullah? Sounds like a terrorist group, Muslim religion same as the majority of the Lebanese, have taken over a so-called "democracy" and its people. They start this BS, Israel retaliates and moves in only far enough to get rid of weaponry that could be the end of Israel, U.S. troops are going in tomorrow ONLY to help people leave, and now the Lebanese Ambassador jokingly states that "We need to be careful of friendly fire?" Who did he mean by "WE"? Them or us?

[Freedom_from_Chains]

1. I heard the friendly fire comment and was not sure what to make of it.

[frankly_fedup2]

2. What was that little snickering about anyway? I really couldn't tell

if he was making that comment to our Soldiers OR he was stating that now the Lebanese need to worry about "friendly" fire. Carlson snickered nervously with him as I don't think he heard what he said really.

[Poll_Blind]

3. I think it was recognition that the Israeli army is dropping bombs...

...and missiles on Lebanon in such quantity and without regard for innocent life that his "friendly fire" comment was intended to give the U.S. a heads-up that they just might get their asses shot up or bombed by the Israelis, too.

  His commentary seems reasonable given the situation there.

PB

[Freedom_from_Chains]

5. I think you might be right as was just kind of paying attention to it

At first I thought it might be a veiled threat but when I looked at the screen his expressions were not threating. Tucker looked like he wasn't sure what to think either.

[alcibiades_mystery]

14. His comment was obvious: the US and Israel are in league in the bombing

So the US troops must beware of friendly fire (from the Israelis).

That's what he was saying.

[atreides1]

4. But Iraq is so passe, at least to this administration.

"The Lebanese BETTER help Israel get rid of Hezbullah."

Why? It wasn't Hezbollah that attacked Lebanese infrastructure or killed Lebanese civilians!!! And if Israel has a right to defend itself why don't the Lebanese have the right?


"The Iraqi's talk about the U.S. being occupiers, then what in the Hell is Hezbullah?"

Hezbollah was home grown in Lebanon between 1982-1985. They are trained and most likely equipped by the Syrians and Iranians. But most Hezbollah members are probably Lebanese, so they like the Sunnis
in Iraq are at home.


"The people claim they love Hezbullah as well (that is publicly); however, privately we are told they hate Hezbullah, want them out of the country, and want Lebanon to be left alone."

Hezbollah's role in the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon gained the organization much respect within Lebanon and the wider Arab and Islamic world, particularly among the country's large Shi'a community

"After the 2005 elections, Hezbollah held 23 seats (up from eight previously) in the 128-member Lebanese Parliament. It also participated for the first time in the Lebanese government that was formed in July 2005. Hezbollah has two ministers in the government, and a third is Hezbollah-endorsed. It is primarily active in the Bekaa Valley, the southern suburbs of Beirut, and southern Lebanon."

For a group that is so hated that they gained 15 seats in the parliament, and hold 2 ministerial positions. I guess that's why the Republicans here are in the majority, because all those people really "hate" them.

"In spite of having a foot inside the government, Hezbollah has been frequently at odds with certain members of Fouad Siniora's cabinet and in early 2006 formed an alliance with Michel Aoun (a former critic of both Hezbollah and Syria) and the Free Patriotic Movement. This new Shiite-Christian alliance aims at creating a new majority outside the 14 March forces and is likely to provide the basis for Aoun's presidency when Emile Lahoud's term expires in 2007."

Now with this knowledge, we know why the Israelis have hit some Christian areas. Now what do you think about that? A Shiite-Christian alliance!!!!

One little bit of information about the innocent Israelis, and how they are just defending themselves:

"In June 2006, the Lebanese military arrested an alleged assassination squad led by former South Lebanese Army corporal Mahmoud Abu Rafeh. According to army statements, the cell was trained and supported by the Israeli Mossad and "used ... to carry out assigned assassinations in Lebanon." Among the killings attributed to the squad are those of Hezbollah officials Ali Saleh (2003) and Ali Hassan Dib (1999)."

So you see, neither side holds the high moral ground. They both have blood on their hands, besides how do you think the Israelis got the British to leave Palestine, it sure wasn't because they won the Cricket matches.

[Full Metal]

6. I didn't hear the statement

was it articulated as a question or as a statement?

If it was a statement he was either referring to Israeli bombs or Lebanese Americans who might shoot at Marines.

If it was a question he probably meant that the Marines might be going after Hesbollah while they're in the neighborhood ie Marines have been itching for some pay back since Reagan pulled them out of in '83 after the Marine barracks bombing in Beiruit.

[jimshoes]

7. Here's an interesting tidbit

of personal observation. While my wife would have turned off coverage of the war in less than a minute, (any of it,it upsets her) she sat and watched the car chase for 10 minutes while I made hamburgers. She's basically no different than your average US Citizen I guess. And the media knows just what they will and won't watch. Just my .02.

[loudsue]

11. In some respects, I can identify with that....

After all, a car chase WILL have an ending in our lifetime, and some closure. It's something "bad" that is happening that is not totally out of our ability to do something about (vicariously, at least, through good ole neighborly law enforcement ).

The WARS (Iraq, Lebanon/Syria/Iran/Palestine/Israel), on the other hand, are chaotic, truly had no beginning in recent history, are never-ending, and even when stopped temporarily, there will be little "closure", for certain.

Yep. A car chase is "easier".

[frankly_fedup2]

15. Thanks for making me laugh a little today. I turned it off after the

car chase and started listening to Randi Rhodes on my computer.

[Ghost in the Machine]

8. and they *still* haven't showed the chase again yet...

just left us hanging.....

no, really.. I wanna know how the chase ended!

[Dr Fate]

9. Yeah- but the driver is a pregant blonde chick who once fell off a boat...

...into a bed of sharks...

So STOP THE PRESSES!!!!!!

[bleedingheart]

10. what channel!!! I can't miss this

[Dr Fate]

12. And get this- she is running away from- you guessed it- HER WEDDING!!!

And a coincidence would have it, her would-be husband is now in a coma and she is trying to take out the feeding tubes!!!!!

STOP THE PRESSES, I SAY!!!

[alcibiades_mystery]

13. Hezbollah didn't "come into" Lebanon: they're primarily Lebanese

Hezbollah effectively "governs" the Shiite south of the country, and purports to represent the Shia portion of the Lebanese populace. While they can certainly be considered a terrorist group first and foremost, they are deeply rooted in Lebanese society, with considerable support of a sizeable portion of the population. That said, we need to be clear eyed about the actual role they play and their place in Lebanese society. Hezbollah did not "invade" Lebanon. They only have any social role and purchase in Lebanon because they were the forefront of what many Lebanese considered resistance to the Israeli invasion and occupation (1982-200), and represented the Shia factions in the civil war (1983-1992).

Now, let me add the standard disclaimer that I do not like, support, nor endorse the politics or practices of Hezbollah. But making up bullshit about Hezbollah is not going to help anyone. We have to be clear-eyed about Hezbollah's history, role, and function in Lebanese society. The only thing that's clear from your post is that you don't know fuck all about it.

[Full Metal]

16. Ya but after the civil war:

all of the militia groups disarmed except for Hesbollah which became a syrian and Iranian proxy which was used to help control Lebanon from abroad.

[alcibiades_mystery]

17. Blah blah blah

Hezbollah is mainly made up of Lebanese and has considerable support among the Shia population in Lebanon. The organoization is deeply woven into the fabric of Lebanese society. That's a simple fact that no attribution of supposed "foreign control" can get around. Hezbollah didn't disarm after the civil war primarily because they considered themselves a resistance group to the Israeli occupation, and Israel continued to occupy southern Lebanon until 2000.

[Full Metal]

18. Dude they are bought and payed for

by Iran and after the civil war they became the armed representatives of syrian and Iranian control.

[alcibiades_mystery]

19. There's no question that they are primarily funded through

Iran and Syria. There's no question that that makes them quasi-agents of Iran and Syria. But that doesn't change the fact that they are Lebanese for the most parts and have deep roots in the Shia areas of Lebanon.

[mitchtv]

20. But mainly-they became the "Resistance" to Isreali

occupation. That's how they gained seats and respect. More so, than their "National Army"

[theanarch]

21. to which one may add that...

..occupying southern Lebanon put Hezbollah on the front line against Israel, which continued its bombing and cross-border raids into Southern Lebanon after the 2000 withdrawl...given their geo-political location, it would have been suicidal for Hezbollah to disarm, and an open invitation for the IDF to reoccupy the region. As mitch notes, the Lebanese Army wasn't about to stand up to the IDF.